LITTLE MAO storms the largest Asian film fest in North America

Little Mao will screen at the largest Asian film festival in North America when it plays twice in March at CAAM Fest (formerly the San Francisco International Asian American Film Festival). This marks the California premiere of the film.

Little Mao plays in the Wrench in the Works shorts program on Sunday, March 17, 2013 at 12:15 pm at the Sundance Kabuki Cinemas, then Monday, March 18, 2013 at 8:30 pm at the New People cinema.  Click here for the full schedule and ticketing information.

Look out, comrades, here comes Little Mao (photo: Maloney Aguirre)

Reached from spring training in Dunedin, Florida, where he's been following his beloved Toronto Blue Jays, Chairman Bobby was elated, but torn about attending the screenings: "I am honoured that the film continues to hit doubles, triples and home runs across North America. Unfortunately, though, the screenings coincide with spring training though I will be present at CAAM in spirit. May a hundred flowers bloom!"

Little Mao enjoyed its world premiere with three sold-out screenings last April at the TIFF Kids Film Festival, held at the world-renown TIFF Bell Lightbox.  Since then, the film has played across Canada and the U.S. including festivals in Chicago, Seattle and Cinefest Sudbury.  More screenings will be announced here.

MAO in Seattle this weekend

Little Mao plays the Children's Film Festival in Seattle twice this coming week: Sunday, January 27 at 7:00 pm and Friday, February 1 at 1:00 pm in the program, Hang On For The Ride. For tickets and information, click here and scroll down.

2012 in pictures

2012 saw Little Mao screen at several festivals, from Toronto to Chicago.  Expect more in 2013, but right now let's look back at 2012:

World premiere of Little Mao in our hometown, Toronto, at the prestigious TIFF Bell Lightbox. 
Three of four screenings were sold out and at one screening, nine cast members and their families came out.

Joshua Budd (Crying Kid) & Brian Obonna  (Home Plate Umpire) (photo by Mira Dimovski Budd)

Alysha Bauer (Jan) & Ariyena Sorani (Cindy) (photo by Mary Sorani)

Left to right: Kevin Wang (Chairman Bobby), Ariyena Sorani (Cindy), Joshua Budd (Crying Kid), Brian Obonna (Home Plate Umpire), Allan Tong (writer/director)  (photo by Mira Dimovski Budd)

OMNI-TV's Jeffrey Lee interviews Kevin Wang (Chairman Bobby)

Ariyena Sorani and Alysha Bauer join director Allan Tong onstage for a post-screening Q&A with TIFF Kids programmer Shane Smith.  This was the very first screening. (photo by Sonya di Rienzo)

At the same time Little Mao was premiering at TIFF Kids in Toronto, the film was screening at Colorado's Indie Spirit Film Festival.

 

 

Little Mao travelled to Sudbury's renown Cinfest Film Festival.

Director/writer Allan Tong with Comrade Marsha Cummings (of POV magazine)

Allan at the Big Nickel

In the fall, Little Mao appeared at several Ontario festivals.  At Kitchener-Waterloo's Grand River Film Festival, Little Mao was a finalist in the short films competition.  Below, Tia Ng (one of the players on the opposing team) appeared at the Hamilton screening (photo by Des Ng).

In October, Little Mao travelled to the American midwest to the Chicago International Children's Film Festival, which along with TIFF Kids is one of the most respected childrens' film festivals in the world.

Allan at 2120 South Michigan Avenue, Chess Records

Allan with fellow filmmakers Julio and Leslie Cabrera of Puerto Rico

 

 

Little Mao kicks off 2013 in Seattle

Little Mao will begin the new year with two screenings at the Children's Film Festival in Seattle.  It takes place on Sunday, January 27 at 7:00 pm and Friday, February 1 at 1:00 pm in the program, Hang On For The Ride.  For tickets, click here.

Seattle marks Little Mao's return to the U.S. after an appearance at the prestigious Chicago International Childrens Film Festival in October.  More screenings across North America will be announced here.  Stay tuned, comrades...

Today, Little Mao salutes Comrade Ariyena Sorani (aka Cindy) on reaching her 10th birthday:

Photo by Maloney Aguirre

Comrades visit the Hamilton Film Festival

Little Mao enjoyed two screenings on Saturday, November 10 at the Hamilton Film Festival.  Unfortunately, writer/director Allan Tong was away filming his documentary, Leone Stars, in distant Sierra Leone, but cast member Tia Ng and her family represented the film. 

"Tia was surprised that after the screening they called all kids who are in the other movies in the program and gave them trophies," reports her proud father, Des (who snapped this photo). 

Thank you, comrades!  Thank you, Hamilton!

Hamilton hails MAO not once, but twice

Little Mao plays not once, but twice at the Hamilton Film Festival. First screening is at 1:00 pm, then another 7:00 pm on November 10. Details & tickets: (905) 529-3000, info@hamiltonfilmfestival.com or
www.hamiltonfilmfestival.com

Little Mao hits the CICFF

Little Mao enjoyed a screening at America's largest kids' film festival, the Chicago International Children Film Festival, last Friday at the renown Facets Multi-Media cinema.  Here are some images:

LITTLE MAO screens at Facets (photo: Julio Cabrera)

Director Allan Tong doing a Q&A after the screening

 

Allan with fellow filmmakers (from Puerto Rico), Julio & Leslie Cabrera

LITTLE MAO visits the home of the blues, Chess Records